"Ten Duel Commandments" is the 15th song of Act One of the musical Hamilton.
Ten common rules of dueling etiquette are discussed as Hamilton, Laurens, Burr and Lee recite the code duello in preparation for Laurens' and Lee's duel.
Lyrics[]
[MEN]
One, two, three, four
[FULL COMPANY]
Five, six, seven, eight, nine...
[HAMILTON/BURR/LEE/LAURENS]
It's the Ten Duel Commandments
[FULL COMPANY]
It's the Ten Duel Commandments
Number one!
[LAURENS]
The challenge, demand satisfaction
If they apologize, no need for further action
[COMPANY]
Number two!
[LAURENS]
If they don't, grab a friend, that's your second
[HAMILTON]
Your lieutenant, when there's reckoning to be reckoned
[COMPANY]
Number three!
[LEE]
Have your seconds meet face-to-face
[BURR]
Negotiate a peace
[HAMILTON]
Or negotiate a time and place
[BURR]
This is commonplace, 'specially 'tween recruits
[COMPANY]
Most disputes die and no one shoots
Number four!
[LAURENS]
If they don't reach a peace, that's alright
Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site
[HAMILTON]
You pay him in advance, you treat him with civility
[BURR]
You have him turn around so he can have deniability
[COMPANY]
Five!
[LEE]
Duel before the sun is in the sky
[COMPANY]
Pick a place to die where it's high and dry
Number six!
[HAMILTON]
Leave a note for you next of kin
Tell them where you've been
Pray that hell or heaven lets you in
[COMPANY]
Seven
[LEE]
Confess your sins, ready for the moment of adrenaline
When you finally face your opponent
[COMPANY]
Number eight!
[HAMILTON/LEE/BURR/LAURENS]
Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight
[BURR]
Alexander
[HAMILTON]
Aaron Burr, sir
[BURR]
Can we agree that duels are dumb and immature?
[HAMILTON]
Sure
But your man has to answer for his words, Burr
[BURR]
With his life? We both know that's absurd, sir
[HAMILTON]
Hang on, how many men died because Lee was inexperienced and ruinous?
[BURR]
Okay, so we're doing this
[COMPANY]
Number nine!
[HAMILTON]
Look 'em in the eye, aim no higher
Summon all the courage you require
Then count
[MEN]
One, two, three, four
[FULL COMPANY]
Five, six, seven, eight, nine
[HAMILTON & BURR]
Number
[COMPANY]
Ten paces
[HAMILTON & BURR]
Fire!
Alternate versions[]
Soundboard Recording[]
- Laurens' line for "Number four" was originally "If you stand firm, play your position/They'll bring the pistols, you bring the physician."
Trivia[]
- The counting-up at the beginning and throughout the song foreshadows a later duel between Philip Hamilton and George Eacker. Philip's mother taught him to count up in French, which is illustrated in "Take A Break", and in various parts in the musical this counting is alluded to; a miscount is heard in Philip Hamilton's duel, after which he is fatally shot.
- The song as a whole is an homage to "Ten Crack Commandments" from Life After Death, the final album of American rapper The Notorious B.I.G..
Gallery[]
